That doesnt mean the Texans werent thrilled to see their defensive leader back at work on Monday.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Phillips was back in the building for the first time since having surgery on his kidney and gallbladder.

The goal would be that he would be [coaching] in the press box on Sunday, but well see how he feels, Kubiak said via the teams website. Its good for everybody just to know that hes doing better and back to full health. Its good for him to be back around the players a little bit.

Kubiak says the team will approach their finale against Tennessee like another game because the team wants momentum heading into the playoffs.

Houston is locked into the No. 3 seed. Its possible that if the Titans beat the Texans on Sunday, then Tennessee could be returning to Houston in the playoffs.

As expected, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips were back to work on Monday.

Johnson, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, participated in practice inside the Methodist Training Center. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he will have to watch Johnson practice this week before deciding if his All-Pro receiver can play on Sunday in the regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

Kubiak said Phillips was at work for a couple of hours. He met with players and went over game tape of the Texans Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Phillips had been on a medical leave of absence for 10 days after having surgery on his kidney and gallbladder.

The goal would be that he would be (coaching) in the press box on Sunday, but well see how he feels, Kubiak said. Its good for everybody just to know that hes doing better and back to full health. Its good for him to be back around the players a little bit.

The Texans are locked in to the third seed in the AFC for the playoffs no matter what happens on Sunday, but Kubiak said that won't change how they prepare for their game. The Texans are on a two-game losing streak and would like to gain some positive momentum heading into the postseason.

We just need to keep going," he said. "Weve got to find a way to fix some of our problems and play better than weve been playing. Were going to approach this game just like any other game
Every time you step on the field its important and this weeks no different."

As expected, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips were back to work on Monday.

Johnson, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, participated in practice inside the Methodist Training Center. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he will have to watch Johnson practice this week before deciding if his All-Pro receiver can play on Sunday in the regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

Kubiak said Phillips was at work for a couple of hours. He met with players and went over game tape of the Texans’ Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Phillips had been on a medical leave of absence for 10 days after having surgery on his kidney and gallbladder.

“The goal would be that he would be (coaching) in the press box on Sunday, but we’ll see how he feels,” Kubiak said. “It’s good for everybody just to know that he’s doing better and back to full health. It’s good for him to be back around the players a little bit.”

The Texans are locked in to the third seed in the AFC for the playoffs no matter what happens on Sunday, but Kubiak said that won't change how they prepare for their game. The Texans are on a two-game losing streak and would like to gain some positive momentum heading into the postseason.

“We just need to keep going," he said. "We’ve got to find a way to fix some of our problems and play better than we’ve been playing. We’re going to approach this game just like any other game.

Every time you step on the field it’s important and this week’s no different."

The Texans are hoping Andre Johnson (hamstring) can play 15-20 snaps for them in Sunday's game against the Titans.
The Texans are locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, so winning in Week 17 is not a priority. Getting Johnson some work in a real game is. He's missed nine of the last 11 games due to hamstring pulls on each leg. Johnson won't be a real fantasy option this week on such a limited snap count.

Play to win against the Titans. Knock them the eff out of playoff contention. The last thing that I ever want to see is back-to-back losses to the Titans at Reliant. I think my head would spontaneously explode if that happened.

Play to win against the Titans. Knock them the eff out of playoff contention. The last thing that I ever want to see is back-to-back losses to the Titans at Reliant. I think my head would spontaneously explode if that happened.

Click to expand...

Keeping the Titans out of the playoffs is more important than the Texans winning in the playoffs ? The thing is the Titans might be the least difficult team to beat, so why not lose to them Sunday with our reserves (while resting our frontline guys), and then beat the crap out of them in the WC game with our fresh starters and then advance onto the divisional playoff round ?

Keeping the Titans out of the playoffs is more important than the Texans winning in the playoffs ? The thing is the Titans might be the least difficult team to beat, so why not lose to them Sunday with our reserves (while resting our frontline guys), and then beat the crap out of them in the WC game with our fresh starters and then advance onto the divisional playoff round ?

Click to expand...

On principle, you don't let the Titans win anything if you can help it.

Keeping the Titans out of the playoffs is more important than the Texans winning in the playoffs ?

Click to expand...

Of course not. I never even implied such a thing.

However, like burro said, it's a matter of principle. Beating the Titans - a division rival - and keeping them out of the playoffs helps the Texans a lot more than resting individuals and losing and perhaps facing the same team a week later.

This stuff does not happen within a vacuum. Stuff like momentum and pride can give this team that intangible boost that they might need for a playoff game. Surely losing three in a row, regardless of circumstances, cannot be a good trend entering the post season.

Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was back at practice on Wednesday, two weeks after taking a sudden medical leave of absence.

Phillips, 64, had surgery on his kidney and gallbladder on Dec. 15. He spent eight days at Methodist Hospital. He returned to work for a couple hours on Monday to meet with players and coaches.

"It's good to be back, Phillips said. I'm a little more sore than I thought I'd be. Im working my way back, doing what the doctors say. Ready to keep building up and getting ready.

I probably will be in the press box this week, and well just go from there. The recovery was great. Everything came through the way we wanted it to come through.

Phillips  whose mother, Debbie, and father, former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, were at practice on Wednesday  said he is just now starting to eat solid foods.

Im starting to feel better and better, he said. I feel good and then all of a sudden my energy level does go down a little bit, but thatll get better as it goes. Once you get into your routine, once you start eating and you start being with the players and with the team in the meetings and so forth, then everything gets easier.

In his first year as Texans defensive coordinator, Phillips has taken Houstons defense from 30th (376.9 yards/game) in 2010 to second (280.7). The Texans are tied for second in passing defense (184.0) after ranking last (267.5) in 2010.

The Texans lost both games they played without Phillips, 28-13 to the Carolina Panthers at home and 19-16 to the previously one-win Colts in Indianapolis.

It's good to have him back, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. I know its good with the players. Weve got to be smart with him out here, make sure he doesn't get banged around. But no, its good to have him back out here and see that hes feeling much better. "

"I went to the hospital the Saturday after the surgery, I think, and to see where he was then and where hes at right now, its a great feeling, because its one thing you cant take for granted in lifes your health. Its good to see him back out here, and I know we all appreciate him and the players are glad to see him back."

We cannot lose to the Titans. We need to knock them on their ass EARLY and OFTEN and set the tone that they are not on the same level as the Texans.

What was it Kaiser Toro had as his signature line awhile back? Something like, "We need to remove from our opponent's mind their natural love for the game."

That's what needs to happen. A dismantling of epic proportion to the point that they pack it in early and sulk on the bench as Reliant rocks out.

If I see hesitation and "play it safe" attitudes and/or game planning by Kubiak & Co. I'm going to be pissed. You throw the kitchen sink at those bastids and make them like it. Pull no punches. Raise the red flag of no quarter from the tallest part of Reliant. Crack out the trumpets and play that mournful song.

We cannot lose to the Titans. We need to knock them on their ass EARLY and OFTEN and set the tone that they are not on the same level as the Texans.

What was it Kaiser Toro had as his signature line awhile back? Something like, "We need to remove from our opponent's mind their natural love for the game."

That's what needs to happen. A dismantling of epic proportion to the point that they pack it in early and sulk on the bench as Reliant rocks out.

If I see hesitation and "play it safe" attitudes and/or game planning by Kubiak & Co. I'm going to be pissed. You throw the kitchen sink at those bastids and make them like it. Pull no punches. Raise the red flag of no quarter from the tallest part of Reliant. Crack out the trumpets and play that mournful song.

Click to expand...

And the only way that this will happen is if the Texans understand that they must come into the game